Fountain pen



G. S. VIVIAN FOUNTAIN PEN June 14; 1932.

Filed May 3, 1930 INVENTOQ 'r Genuss, S` VMAN 43 ps2/FP AT1-'ORNE STATES rasata@ GEORGE STEVART VIVAN, 0F LONDON, ENGLAND, .ASSG-NOR OF ONE-HALF T0 T. B. FORD LEMI'IED, CF EG VYCQMBE, BUCKNG-ELIESHRE, ENGLAND FOUNTAIN PEN Application filed Iflay 3, 1930, Serial No. 449,604, and in Great Britain May 8, 1929.

This invention relates to fountain pens of the type in which the ink chamber is provided with means whereby it may be charged with ink in what is generally known as a selffilling manner. Heretofore the practice has been to join the ink chamber as an inseparable part of the pen the self-filling mechanism being permanently fitted to the pen, and in most forms the method of filling the pen leaves an undesirable residue of ink around the exterior of the pen. Further by reason of the self-filling mechanism being a permanent fixture of the pen certain restrictions in manufact-ure arise which render it diicult to provide ample accommodation for ink.

The object of the present invention is to provide a clean and easy method of charging the ink chamber of a fountain pen and also to enable a good supply of ink to be received in such chamber.

Broadly the present invention is characterized in that a fountain pen is formed with its ink receiving chamber readily detachable from the remainder of the pen, such chamber bein@ rovided with the means for charoino' t) b 23 it with ink, the arrangement being that when the pin is to be charged with ink, the ink receiving chamber is removed from the remainder of the pen, charged with ink and replaced in the pen.

Means is preferably provided whereby the complete insertion of the ink chamber in the pen will cause the ink outlet of such chamber to be brought into communication with the nib or stylus passage.

In one form of this invention a fountain pen comprises two tubular parts, one being the outer and normal nib or the like carrying part preferably provided with the usual -nib cap, and the other having a nice fit in said outer part and adapted to extend substantially the full length of the interior of the outer part, the inner part being provided with an ink outlet at its lower end and accommodating suitable means, for instance a bucket form of reciprocating plunger pump for drawing ink through such outlet, the outlet being provided with a non-return valve cooperating with the pump device and adapted to be opened and retained open when the inner' tubular part is in its normal position inside the outer sleeve.

t is preferred to make the inner tubular member of glass or other suitable transparent material to provide a visual means of ascertaining when the ink chamber is adequately lled.

ln order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effectl have appended hereto a sheet of drawings illustrating an embodiment of same, and wherein z- F ig. l is a sectional elevation of the assembled pen.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevation views of the ink chamber showing the two eXtreme positions of the reciprocating pump-like lilling device.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional elevation views showing alternative methods of sealing the upper end of the ink chamber against leakage of ink.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another arrangement.

Referring to the drawing the invention is shown applied to a fountain pen having a nib l although it will be appreciated that the nib may be substituted by a stylus. The nib lis shown secured by the usual securing' member 2 wedged in the ink outlet passage 3 in the lower end of the body part 4 which may be of conventional exterior conguration. A protector cap 5 is preferably provided in w ll known manner.

The upper end of the body part 4 is normally closed by a cap 6 threaded as shown at 7 to the body part whereby it may be removed to .enable an ink receiving chamber inside the tubular body part 4 to be removed.

The ink receiving chamber is a tubular body 8 extending as a nice fit the full length of the interior of the body part 4 and' proiecting` a slight distance beyond the upper end of the body part 4 whereby it may be engaged for withdrawing from the body part 4. In the lower end of the tubular ink chamber 8 is arranged a pump chamber 9 having a conical end and it is preferred to provide a rubber seating l() against which the conical lower end of the ink chamber 8 is pressed' by reason of the engagement of the upper end of the inlr chamber with an annular step 11 in the closure cap 6, thereby obviating loose parts.

rlhe detachable inli chamber is provided with an appropriate device for drawing ink into the lower end 9 so as to charge the ink chamber, and the filling device may be of any suitable form7 one form being that illustrated in which the pump chamber 9 at the lower end of the chamber 8 accommodates a reciprocating bucket type of pump 12 connected to an operating rod 13.

T he pump member 12 operates between the lower end of the pump chamber 9 and an annular abutment 14 a shortdistance above such lower end, whereby a number of reciproeations have to be imparted to the member 12 to properly charge the chamber 8 with inlr.

A simple method of effecting the desiret reciprocation of the pump member 12 consists in extending the upper end of the rod 13, preferably.T enlarged as a handle 12a through the sealed upper end of the chamber 8, a. coiled compression spring 15 being provided for raising the rod 13, the depression of such rod being effected by hand. The spring 15 can convenientl f be accommodated in a. plug 16 permanentlyT closing the upper end of the chamber 8. the spring 15 being held between the base of this plug 16 and the lower end of the handle 12a. It is preferred to guide the rod 13 through sleeve 1'? fixed in the base of the plug 16 and fairly tightly fitted about the rod 13 to prevent ink from flowing into the plug 16.

The conical lower end of the chamber 8 accommodates a loose ball valve 18 which (to-operates with the pump member 12 in well known manner and when the pumping operation is finished closes the ink outlet 19 in the lower extremity of the chamber 8, whereby the ink is retained in the chamber 8 while re-introducing the chamber 8 in the body part 4. The opening of the passage 19 when the chamber 8 is properly introduced into the body part 4 can be effected by providing on the anis of the body part 4f a pin 2O fixed in the inner end of the nib-holder 2 and adapted to enter the passage 1 9 as shown in Fig. 1` the pin 2O engaging the ball 18 and holding it clear of the apex of the conical part 9. In a stylograph pen the stylo is carried into the opening 19.

To obviate a delicate and complicated valve mechanism in the pump chamber 9, the necessary valve action for transferring the inl: from the pump chamber 9 'to the space above the abutment 111 can be obtained by providing on the lower end of the rod 13 a valve member 21, this member 21 being fixed to the rod 13 and having a small amount of lost motion relative to the pump member 12. A port 22 is provided in the top face of the member 12, this member being a shallow hollow cylindrical metal or other suitable member preferably having a number of slits 12?) in its lower end to provide a certafn amount of resiliency whereby it may be tightly fitted in the lower end of the chamber 9 and normally will by reason of such tight fit remain abuttingr against the abutment 14 so as to leave a clear passage for the ink through a hole lla in the abutment lll, the port 22 and the open base 23 of the piston 12.

The valve member 21 has a spherical or conical upper end 21e adapted to engage and close the port 22 duri ng the rse of the piston 12, but normally clearing the port 22 as shown in 1 allow the inlr to fiow free ly trein the inlr chamber 8. The base of the valve member 21 which comprises a cross bar or spider arm does not close the base of the piston 12 but engages an annular ledge 2l?) of such base.

riny suitable air vent may be provided for the escape of air from the chamber 8 due to the rise of inl; in the chamber 8. It is pre- 'ed to make the Atube forming the chamber 8 of glass7 celluloid or other suitable transparent material to give a visible indication when the chamber is properly charged.

The pen is charged with ink by unscrewing the cap an withdrawing the chamber 8, when the lower end of' the chamber 8 inserted into an inl; vessel and the head 12a de pressed successively, the actuation of the head 12ar being conveniently effected by the operators thumb. When the chamber 8 is charged it is inserted into the body part 4 and the cap 6 is screwed on again. When the cap (i is screwed home its upper lend abuts against the head 12e of the rod 13 and slightly depresses such rod, thereby uncerering the `port 22 in the piston 12 without moving the piston.

Il desired the upper end of the cham ber 8 can be fitted with a rubber cap to pre vent leakage of inlr, for instance as shown in Fig. l in which a rubber cap 24 has a beaded rim 25 gripped in a circumferential recess 26 in the top of the tube 8, this cap being stretched over the upper end of the head 12a of the rod 13 when the rod is in the normal position. is an alternative or additional sealing means the tubular guide 17 of the rod 13 may be fitted with a rubber tube 27 shown in Fig. 5. this tulle being tightly gripped around the gu'de 17 and the red 13 and beine shaped Ato permit the rod 125 Lo reciprocate. is shown in Fig. 5 the guide can be formed with a flange 17a abutting ainst an annular ledge 28 in the tube 8, he spring 15 being acconnnoda ed in a space a formed in the tube 8 instead ot fitting separate plug 16.

It wfll be appreciated that the spring 15 may be located elsewhere, for instance between'the base of the piston 12 and the lower end of the tube 8.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and the pump 12 is connected to the plug 16 by a tube 13a which surrounds the rod 18. The lower end of the tube 18a is fitted into the annular abutment 14n and its upper end is fitted into the plug 16. Vent holes 13b are provided near the upper end of the tube 13a and perforations 1116 are formed in the annular abutment 14 around the tube 13a. A resilient diaphragm 30 of rubber or other suitable material is clamped between nuts 31 on the screw threaded upper end of the rod 13. rlhe plug 16 is formed in two portions 16a and 165 and the outer edges of the dia.- phragm 8O are clamped between them. The diaphragm 30 may act as a spring to return the pump member 12 and handle 12a or an additional spring 15b may be arranged in the pump chamber 9 or in any other convenient position.

The vent holes 13?) are formed to facilitate the filling of the ink chamber 8 until the holes are covered by the ink when further pumping will not be effective. They also ensure an unrestricted flow of inl; to the pen when in use. The resilient diaphragm forms an effect-ive sea-l for the top of the ink chamber 8 and prevents the escape of ink.

By means of my invention a clean and emcient method of charging a fountain pen with a large supply of ink is provid-ed.

I claim 1. A self filling fountain pen comprising a casing and an ink reservoir slidable within and removable through the upper end of said casing, said casing being provided with a nibfand an ink passage in its lower end, a reciprocating member projecting through t-he upper end of said reservoir for operating a reciprocating pump plunger in the lower end of the reservoir, a one-way valve in said plunger, and a closure cap on the upper end of said casing adapted when applied to the casing to depress said reciprocating member and thereby to set said valve in a position to allow inl: to flow from the reservoir into said ink passage.

2. A self iilling fountain pen comprising a casing and an ink reservoir slidable within and removable through the upper end of said casing, said casing being provided with a nib and an ink passage in its lower end, a reciprocating member projecting through th-e upper end of said reservoir for operating a reciprocating pump plunger in the lower end of the reservoir, a one-way valve in said plunger, a closure cap on the upper end of said casing adapted when applied to the casing to depress said reciprocating member and thereby to set said valve in a position to allow ink to flow from the reservoir into said ink passage, a conical lower end to said reservoir, said conical lower end being provided with an ink passage therein, and a seating in the lower end of said casing receiving said conical end to provide a liquid tight connection between the reservoir vand said ink passage.

3. A self filling fountain pen comprising a casing and an ink reservoir slidable within and removable through the upper end of said casing, said casing being provided with a nib and an ink passage in its lower end, a reciprocating member projecting through the upper end of said reservoir for operating a reciprocating pump plunger inthe lower end of the reservoir, a one-way valve in said plunger, and a closure cap on the upper end of said casing adapted when applied to the casing to depress said reciprocating member and ther-eby to set said valve in a position to allow inlr to flow from the reservoir into said inl; passage, a seating in the upper end of said plunger against which said valve is adapted to seat when the reservoir is being charged, and a rod connecting said valve to said reciprocating member.

el. A self filling fountain pen comprising a casing and an inl: reservoir slidable within and removable through the upper end of said casing, said casing being provided with a nib and an ink passage in its lower end, a reciprocating member projecting through the upper end of said reservoir for operating a reciprocating pump plunger in the lower end of the reservoir, a one-way valve in said plunger, and a closure cap on the upper end of said casing adapted when applied to the casing to depress said reciprocating member and thereby to set said valve in a position to allow ink to iiow from the reservoir into said ink passage, a seating in the upper end of said plunger against which said valve is adapted to seat when the reservoir is being charged, a rod connecting said valve to said reciprocating member, spring means for moving the rod in the direction to seat said valve on said seating in the plunger, relative movement between said valve and said plunger, in said seating being provided with a port for admitting ink to the reservoir, said piston being provided with an outlet for the flow of ink to said passage, the said valve constituting an abutment for transferring the movement of said rod under the influence of said spring means to the plunger, and an abutment in the reservoir limiting the inward movement of the plunger.

5. A self filling fountain pen comprising a casing and an ink reservoir slidable within and removable through the upper end of said casing, said casing being provided with a nib and an ink passage in its lower end, a reciprocating member projecting through the upper end of said reservoir for operating a reciprocating pump plunger in the lower end of the reservoir, a one-way valve in said plunger, and a closure cap on the upper end of said casing adapted when applied to the casing to depress said reciprocating member and thereby to set said valve in a position to allow ink to flow from the reservoir into said inkV passage, a seating in the upper end of said 'plunger against which said Valve is L1:5 adapted to seat when the reservoir is being charged, a rod connecting said valve to said reciprocating members, a tubular member surrounding said rod within the reservoir in A, said tubular member being provided with 10 vent holes. Y

6. A self filling fountain pen comprising a casing and an ink reservoir slidable within and removable through the upper end of said casing, said casing being provided with a "'16 nib and an ink passage in its lower end, a reciprocating member projecting through the upper end of said reservoir for operating a reciprocating pump plunger in the lower end of the reservoir, a one-way valve in said 4"a0 plunger, a closure cap on the upper end of said casing adapted when applied to the casing to depress said reciprocating member and thereby to set said Valve in a position to allow ink to flow from the reservoir into said W25 ink passage, a ball valve in the lower end of said reservoir and an upstanding projection 1n the lower end of said casing adapted to engage and raise said ball valve.`

GEORGE STEWART VVIAN. 

